enfermo
/en-FER-mo/
sick
When used as an adjective, enfermo means 'sick' or 'unwell.'
enfermo(Adjective)
sick
?General feeling of being unwell.
,ill
?Often used interchangeably with 'sick'.
unhealthy
?Describing something that is not good for your health.
,diseased
?Referring to a plant or animal affected by disease.
📝 In Action
Hoy no voy a la escuela porque estoy enfermo.
A1I'm not going to school today because I'm sick.
Mi gato ha estado enfermo toda la semana.
A2My cat has been ill all week.
Tiene una mente enferma y retorcida.
B2He has a sick and twisted mind.
💡 Grammar Points
Matches the Person/Thing it Describes
This word changes to match if you're talking about someone masculine, feminine, or a group. enfermo (masculine), enferma (feminine), enfermos (masculine plural), enfermas (feminine plural).
Use 'estar' for Being Sick
To say someone is sick right now, you almost always use the verb estar. For example, Él está enfermo. (He is sick). It describes a temporary state or condition.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'ser' instead of 'estar'
Mistake: "Mi padre es enfermo."
Correction: Mi padre está enfermo. Using 'ser' makes it sound like being sick is a permanent part of his identity, which is very rare. For the temporary state of being sick, always use 'estar'.
Forgetting to Match Gender
Mistake: "Mi hermana está enfermo."
Correction: Mi hermana está enferma. Because 'hermana' is feminine, the word describing her must also end in '-a'.
⭐ Usage Tips
More Than Just Colds
Enfermo can describe anything from a simple cold to a serious illness. It's a very general and useful word.
As a noun, enfermo refers to a 'patient,' someone receiving medical care.
📝 In Action
El enfermo está en la habitación 204.
A2The patient is in room 204.
La Cruz Roja ayuda a los enfermos y heridos.
B1The Red Cross helps the sick and injured.
💡 Grammar Points
A Person Who is Sick
When used as a noun, enfermo refers to the person who is sick. It also changes for gender: el enfermo (the male patient) and la enferma (the female patient).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Article
Mistake: "Enfermo necesita agua."
Correction: El enfermo necesita agua. When talking about a specific patient, you need to include 'el' or 'un' (the/a) before the word, just like in English.
⭐ Usage Tips
Patient vs. Sick Person
While it can mean 'patient', it's often more general, like saying 'the sick one' or 'the ill person'. The word paciente is more specific to a hospital or doctor's office setting.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: enfermo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly says 'The female patient is resting'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the real difference between `estar enfermo` and `ser enfermo`?
`Estar enfermo` is what you'll use 99% of the time. It means you are sick right now—with a cold, the flu, etc. It's a temporary state. `Ser enfermo` is very rare and describes a permanent characteristic. You might use it for someone who has a chronic, lifelong illness, essentially saying they are 'a sickly person'.
Can I say 'Me siento enfermo'?
Yes, absolutely! `Me siento enfermo` means 'I feel sick' and is a very common and natural way to express that you're not feeling well. It's often interchangeable with `Estoy enfermo`.